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SAN DIEGO — U.S. legislation that seeks to restrict American biotechs from working with certain Chinese firms and suppliers is for now just that — a proposal, not a law. But the looming bill’s impact was clearly visible at this year’s meeting of the industry’s largest trade group.

A number of biotech companies in attendance at the meeting of the Biotechnology Innovation Organization told STAT they’re actively looking to strike deals with U.S.-based drug manufacturers rather than companies named in the legislation, even though doing so will be more costly. An executive at a U.S.-based contract development and manufacturing organization, or CDMO, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said that “month to month, new business has gone through the roof.”

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Meanwhile, some Chinese suppliers not named in the bill are paradoxically drawing increased interest from biotechs — while hearing from some customers worried those manufacturers could be blacklisted in the future.

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